In Type H PMS, women feel the effects of too much fluid in their bodies: bloating, weight gain, water retention, and breast tenderness. If you step on the scale and find you've suddenly gained six pounds, then you may be suffering from Type H PMS. Interestingly, constipation, which is more likely to be caused by dehydration rather than hyperhydration, is also considered symptomatic of Type H PMS. Possibly this is because constipation is a symptom of a slow-acting thyroid, a condition called hypothyroidism, which can also cause abdominal bloating. Up to 40 percent of women experience Type H PMS, which is considered the second, most common type of PMS behind Type A (Anxiety).

Prolactin’s Role

Other theories about why some women tend to experience and weight gain include elevated prolactin levels and low of magnesium and vitamin B6 (see Chapter 15). Elevated prolactin levels, which are known to cause amenorrhea or the condition no periods, may cause bloating, but research hasn’t proven is a definitive connection between high prolactin levels and PMS. example, studies show that suppressing excess prolactin does relieve bloating. Instead, many experts believe that thyroid abnormalities, which can cause bloating and are sometimes associated elevated prolactin levels, may be responsible for this symptom.